Favorite DC Character Ever

[Navarre]

If you had to pick one DC character (past or present) as your favorite, who would it be?

My choice:

Raven

I don't choose her for any deep psychological reason as I did Steve Rogers in the analogous Marvel thread. I just really like Raven.

I think she is a character who has been terribly underwritten for most of her tenure in comics. Many writers can't seem to get more out of her than "Emo-Raven". But I think there are a lot of great stories to be told about her and a lot of character development we have yet to see.

Who's yours?

[Alisha Mynx]

Despite the fact my favorite comic concept is Green Lantern, my actual favorite DC character is Jade (Raven is a close second, closer to a tie, but if I can only pick one it is Jade).  I dunno, I just find her appealing and interesting.  Her parentage alone (one hero, one villain) is interesting enough.  Her powers have had some strange twists and turns (and I'm rather disappointed they never followed through much with her gaining plant-based powers in that one Green Lantern special after she had lost her normal light-energy powers).  And she's not 'perfect', she's just a cute girl who happens to have powers but still makes human mistakes.

[Navarre]

Jade isn't a character I remember ever reading at all. But then I don't read much DC. I only know she is the daughter of Alan Scott.

If I were choosing green-skinned girls in DC, Miss Martian would get my vote.

I'd glad you chose someone besides the obvious big-leaguers though. At least it makes me more interested to learn more about Jade.

[Armaan]

Kyle Rayner. Kyle Rayner is my favorite DC character.
I've always been utterly obsessed with the power of the green lantern ring - a power based on willpower, but more importantly - imagination. And in the comics I got to read about Kyle Rayner, the writers seem to be enchanted with the magic of imagination that Kyle Rayner embodies. He makes the ring something magical, and not just this big powerhouse of green POWER.
Plus, I like the dude. An earnest superhero strong with heart. To have watched him grow from the rookie of the DC universe to having a large place of respect both on earth and as an honour guard of Oa is something I find inspiring.

Because of the growth thing, Tim Drake's my second favorite.

[Alisha Mynx]

Kyle Rayner. Kyle Rayner is my favorite DC character.
I've always been utterly obsessed with the power of the green lantern ring - a power based on willpower, but more importantly - imagination. And in the comics I got to read about Kyle Rayner, the writers seem to be enchanted with the magic of imagination that Kyle Rayner embodies. He makes the ring something magical, and not just this big powerhouse of green POWER.

I think he's probably one of the reasons I managed to get some friends to finally give GL a chance.  His development and growth made him in some ways more accessible to readers unfamiliar with GL other than appearances in JLA or other group books.  He was also a lot more relatable than most GLs on some levels.

The only thing I hate about Kyle is the lucky jerk got to date Jade.  When is it gonna be my turn?!?!   

[Navarre]

I think you'll get to date Jade about the same time I get to date Illyana. Maybe we can go on a double-date. 

[greyman24]

Yeah. You know, those secondary characters always interest me: mostly because some of them have such interesting concepts that just seem right out of reach. They'll start up a series with great promise with a huge up-and-coming writer/artist and then (because they're up-and-coming) they'll get some plum job elsewhere and the title will fizzle.

I've said before that I love Firestorm. The Gerry Conway version of him was my favorite, but the Jason Rusch storyline wasn't bad...just not compelling.

Favorite character, though? Tough one. I keep coming back to Batman. I mean, there's such a rich history, there. And there's so much diversity! What Batman are we dealing with? Well, who's writing him now? What era are we in?

His genesis is so dark, but I love the stories best that show him as a heroic individual--not the ones where he can beat anyone with 15 minutes of planning, but the ones where you see his weaknesses.

There are two gags from Identity Crisis that stick with me. One is Supes identifying the "common Boy Scout knot" that's used on Jean Loring and the other is the look that Rags Morales draws on Batman's face when he reacts to Tim's saddened request. He's terrified and shocked, and in the angry determination you see immediately afterward you see why he is what he is and why he does what he does. It's an amazing scene, and the resonance of the "Tim Drake. Bruce Wayne. Orphans." panel? Only in a character that's been around for that long--that's hooked his way into your childhood's heart so strongly--can you get the deep-felt response experienced in reading that page.

[Navarre]

Only in a character that's been around for that long--that's hooked his way into your childhood's heart so strongly--can you get the deep-felt response experienced in reading that page.

That is a good point. And you're right that most characters will never receive that sort of development.

As much as I am a fan of Steve Rogers, I know that the same amount of development will never befall Jocasta or even someone like the Falcon. Publishers don't seem to take those sorts of risks too often.

So we will continue to receive off and on greatness from the likes of Batman, Superman, Spider-Man, and Wolverine while Firestorm remains a great supporting character even when he has his own title.

[Otter Disaster]

Probably a close race between Wally West and the Jim Corrigan Spectre, with Wally taking the crown.  I loved the arc of him coming out from behind Barry's shadow and becoming worthy of the name the fastest man alive.

[Navarre]

I haven't read much DC over the last decade or two. I know Wally from The New Teen Titans in the early 80's.

He was the Flash in the last Titans title but he still seemed like his old wise-cracking semi-immature self despite being married and all of that.

Did this title misrepresent his character?

[Otter Disaster]

Wally was still impetuous and a wisecracker even after he got over being in Barry's shadow, it was just his nature.  I haven't read the monthly Flash book or any monthly comics, since 2006 so I don't know how his character is handled of late.  I shudder to think how he's written now that Saint Barry is back from the grave...

[Alisha Mynx]

I haven't read much DC over the last decade or two. I know Wally from The New Teen Titans in the early 80's.

He was the Flash in the last Titans title but he still seemed like his old wise-cracking semi-immature self despite being married and all of that.

Did this title misrepresent his character?

As also stated above, Wally always has been a wisecracker.  Even when he's had serious issues to deal with, he still cracked a joke here and there because that was just how he dealt with it, similar to how some people will make jokes to ease their own tension during a stressful event. 

[Navarre]

Sure, I get the Peter Parker/Hawkeye Pierce approach. Titans didn't give me much more than that and I suspected he would have grown a lot from the time of New Teen Titans.

I was wondering if he'd developed in other ways and I'd simply missed it.

He's married and has...hmm, twins- Is that right?

[chrysalis]

Gar. I like the joking side of him and completely relate to his longing to be with Raven, yet never getting to that point. Besides, who would like a character that can be a bear one minute and a butterfly the next. lol

[MaximusRift]

For me, DC is about Wally West and Kyle Rayner. Though I have to say that I'm liking the new Wonder Woman a lot.